Germans Rush to Buy Heat Pumps Ahead of February Election
- Subsidy applications have spiked since coalition collapsed
- Conservatives want to abolish heating law and cut subsidies
A newly-installed heat pump at a residential house in Berlin.
Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images EuropeThis article is for subscribers only.
Germans are rushing to apply for heat pump subsidies ahead of February’s federal election amid concerns that the new government will roll back financial support for the technology.
Applications jumped to 54,892 in December, more than doubling October’s levels, according to the economy ministry. Households can receive reimbursements of up to 70% for environmentally-friendly heating systems and are hurrying to make use of the support since Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition collapsed in early November.